Magpieszone

Blackburn Rovers vs Newcastle United

Newcastle in my opinion will start with 4-4-1-1 formation today with Allardyce welcomes back Joey Barton, James Milner and Abdoulaye Faye to the Magpies starting XI for Saturday’s fixture at Blackburn.

Milner, Oba Martins and Alan Smith forming a three-pronged attack. N’Zogbia is likely to play wide as left-wing back, but Steven Taylor is likely missed out this weekend game. Beye, Rozehnal and Faye will back-to-back with Zog.

Faye returns to the defence at the expense of Jose Enrique, while Barton replaces Emre in the United midfield. With Mark Viduka also dropping down to the bench, its naturally left Oba as the lone striker with Smith operating slightly behind him.

Nicky Butt will pairing Geremi as defensive-midfielders while Barton, Milner and Smith up to back Oba.

TEAM LINE-UP:

Blackburn Rovers FC:
Brad Friedel, Andre Ooijer, Christopher Samba, Stephen Warnock, Tugay, Brett Emerton, Aaron Mokoena, David Bentley, David Dunn, Benni McCarthy, Roque Santa Cruz
Subs: Jason Brown, Robbie Savage, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Steven Reid, Jason Roberts

Newcastle United FC:
Shay Given, Habib Beye, Charles N’Zogbia, David Rozehnal, Abdoulaye Faye, Nicky Butt, Joey Barton, Geremi, Alan Smith, Oba Martins, James Milner
Subs: Steve Harper, Mark Viduka, Emre, Jose Enrique, Stephen Carr

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Attendance: tbc